Fertilizer-distributer



(No Model.) 7

W. M. DORMON. FERTILIZER DISTRIBUTER.

No. 430,248. Patented Jl ln 17, 1890.

amoe'wtoz Wiley J/Lflormon UNITED STATES PATENT O FICE.

WILEY IWLDORMON, 0E sALINE, LOUISIANA.

FERTILIZER-DISTRIBUTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 430,248, dated June17,1890. Application filed February 28, 1890. Serial No. 342,121. (Nomodel.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WI EY M. DORMON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Saline, in the parish of Bienville and State of Louisiana,have invented a new and useful Fertilizer-Distributer, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to fertilizer-distributers; and it has for itsobject to provide a machine of this class which shall be simple inconstruction, durable, and effective in operation. A

The invention consists in theimproved construction, arrangement, andcombination of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described, andparticularly pointed out in the claims. 4

In the drawings hereto annexed, Figure 1 is a perspective View. Fig. 2is a longitudinal vertical sectional view. Fig. 3 is a plan view. Fig. 4is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line a as in Fig.2.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.

The frame 1 of my improvedmachine is preferably rectangular in shape andis provided near its front end with boxes or bearings for a transverserevolving shaft or axle 2, carrying the operating-wheel 3. Near the rearend of the frame bearings are provided for the main axle 4, having thesupportingwheels 5, which are mounted rigidly upon the axle.

6 designates the hopper, which is mounted upon the frame in front of therear axle, and the bottom and rear side of which are provided with acontinuous slot 7. J ournaled transversely in the sides of the hopper isa rock-shaft 8, one end of which is provided with a crank 9, connectedby a pitman 10 with a crank 11 at one end of the'shaft 2, from which anoscillating motion may in this manner be imparted to the rock-shaft 8.The latter is provided with downwardly-extendin g fingers or agitators12. The rear axle 4 is provided with radiallyextending pins 13, whichextend through the slot7 in the bottom and rear side of the hopper,andwhich serve in operation to force the contents of the hop-. per outthrough the said slots. The said fingers consist of a single barextending trans+ versely through a slot 14 in the axle and secured inposition by means of a set-screw 15.

16 designates a fiat board, which is hinged to the bottom of the hopperat the front edge of the latter, and which extends upwardly, theposition normally occupied by said board being flat against the frontside of the hopper. The side and bottom edges of said hinged board areconnected with the sides and bottom of the hopper by means of strips 17of flexible material, which, while they will permit the board 16 tooscillate freely upon its hinges, will prevent any of the contents ofthe hopper from working past the said board and into the space betweenthe latter and the front side of the hopper.

18 and 19 designate laterally-extending arms or bracket-s secured to theupper and lower ends of the oscillating board 16, and the latter ofwhich extends through the side of the hopper. The outer ends of saidarms are connected by a bar 20, which is extended downwardlyinto thepath of pins 21, which are secured to the inner side of and extendlaterally from one of the supporting-wheels. It will be seen that whenthe latter revolves it will engage the lower end of the bar or lever 20and impart an oscillating'movement to the board 16. The bottom and rearside of the hopper are provided with sides 22, adjustable in flanges 23,and by means of which the size of the slot or opening 7 may beregulated, or the said slot may be entirely closed.

The front end of the frame of the machine is provided with a verticalstandard, to the upper end of which a clevis may be attached and thelower end of which may carry a furrow-opener of ordinary construction.Suitable covering-plows 25 may also be attached to the rear corners ofthe frame, such plows being found preferable to the drags or scrapersusually employed. Handles 26, by means of which the machine may beguided, are also attached to the frame and to the rear side of thehopper.

The operation of this invention will be readily understood from theforegoing description, taken in connection with the drawings heretoannexed. The material to be distributed is placed in the hopper and thema chine is then drawn over the ground. The

oscillating board 16 will constantly throw the contents of the hopper ina rearward direction in the same, and the fingers or agitators upon therock-shaft 8 Will assist in keeping the contents of the hopperloose. Thefingers extending radially from the revolving axle will remove thecontents of the hopper through the slot 7 and deposit it upon the groundat regular intervals and in quantities which may be regulated by thesize of the slot 7.

The machine will also be found exceedingly useful for plantingcotton-seed, as will be readily understood.

The device is simple in construction and is not liable to get out oforder, and it may be manufactured at a small expense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to securebyLetters Patent 1. The combination of the hopper having the slottedbottom, the rock-shaft having stir rers or agitators, the revolving axlehaving the radially-extending fingers, the oscillating board hinged tothe bottom of the hopper, and suitable operating mechanism,substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of the frame, the revolving axle having thesupporting-wheels, the hopper, the oscillating board hinged in thebottom of said hopper and having laterally-extending arms, the barconnecting the said arms, and the pins extending laterally from one ofthe supporting-wheels and adapted to engage the said bar, substantiallyas set forth.

3. The combination, with the hopper having the slotted bottom and rearside, and slides to regulate the size of said slots, of the revolvingaxle having a transverse slot, the fingers extending through said slotand held adjustably therein by a set-screw, the rockshaft mountedtransversely in the hopper and having fingers or agitators, theoscillating board hinged to the bottom of the hopper and havinglaterally-extending arms connected by a downwardly-extending bar, thesupporting-Wheels, one of which is provided with pins to engage the saidbar, the operatingwheel mounted upon a revolving axle near the front endof the frame, a pitman connecting a crank at the end of said axle with acrank upon the end of the rock-shaft in the hopper, andv a furrow-openerand covering plows, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my oWn I have hereto affixedmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILEY M. DORMON.

\Vitnesses:

J NO. 0. THEIRs, BEN P. EDWARDS.

